Tampa Theatre (711 N Franklin St), one of the city’s most historic and haunted landmarks, returns with the 12th annual “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” series from October 11-31. This Halloween extravaganza will offer a mix of classic horror films, ghost tours, live performances, and family-friendly events, creating a spooky atmosphere perfect for fans of the macabre.
The event kicks off on Friday, October 11, with a Franklin Street Block Party from 5pm-7pm. Visitors can explore vendor booths offering unique items like dark-themed plants from The Citrine Ghost, original art from Summer Elaine Hue and Scott Swenson, and seasonal accessories from I Am So Not Cool Jewelry. The Central Gourmet Food Truck and Frozen Stiffs Ice Cream Hearse will serve up eerie delights, while “sidewalk scare-aoke” from Dave & Busters adds to the spooky fun. The block party is free and open to all.
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Later that evening, the Theatre will screen Stephen King’s classic Carrie at 7pm, followed by the slasher film Prom Night at 10pm. Tickets for the films are $10 or $7 for members.
Horror classics return to the big screen during Nightmare on Franklin Street
On October 20, Phantasmagoria returns with “Grim and Grimmer Tales,” a mix of storytelling, dance, puppetry, and more, bringing works from Poe, James, and other legendary horror writers to life. A free event, “Campfire Stories,” will take place on October 21, with spine-tingling tales suitable for all ages.
Families can enjoy “Mummy & Me” screenings of films like Coraline and Beetlejuice, where kids 12 and under get free admission.
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Tampa Theatre also hosts special screenings of Nosferatu paired with Radiohead’s music, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the locally made thriller Bitter Souls, among many other events. For ghost-hunting enthusiasts, Tampa Theatre’s haunted tours offer chilling stories of the theater’s past throughout October.
55 events over the course of 21 days this October
The schedule for family-friendly of film screenings:
- Coraline (2009, Rated PG for scary images, some language) at 2:00pm Monday, Oct. 14
- Beetlejuice (1988, Rated PG for mild profanity, crude humor) at 7:00pm Tuesday, Oct. 15
- The Ghost & Mr. Chicken (1966, Not Rated/G-equivalent) at 4:00pm Saturday, Oct. 19
- Hocus Pocus (1993, Rated PG for scary images, some language) at 3:00pm Saturday, Oct. 26
also have 50th anniversary screenings of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Young Frankenstein, classic titles like The Birds, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and The Masque of the Red Death, modern favorites like House of 1000 Corpses, Donnie Darko and Hellraiser, and more – a total of 55 fear-inducing events over the 21-day series. Full details available on Tampa Theatre’s website.
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